MONDAY, May 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A new type of "balloon-in-a-pill" may offer a nonsurgical way for obese people to shed pounds -- and get healthier, too, a small study hints.

The study, of just 10 patients, tested the latest rendition of the so-called gastric balloon.

Some weight-loss experts consider gastric balloons an alternative to invasive obesity surgery. The approach is straightforward: One or more balloons are placed in the stomach, then inflated -- allowing them to take up space and curb the patient's appetite.

There are already a few weight-loss balloons on the market in the United States. Two, called ReShape and Orbera, are ingested with the help of an endoscope placed in the mouth and threaded down into the stomach.

Another, called Obalon, is swallowed via a capsule. The capsule, which is tethered to a thin catheter, dissolves once it reaches the stomach, revealing the balloon. The balloon is then inflated with air through the catheter.

All three balloon devices must be removed through an endoscope after six months.

The device tested in the new study is different in a few ways, said researcher Dr. Hidetoshi Ohta, of Otaru Ekisaikai Hospital in Japan.

Like Obalon, it is taken by pill. But, Ohta explained, there is no need for an endoscope. The balloon is deflated, then excreted the natural way six months after it's swallowed.

The new device also has a "magnetic valve," Ohta said. The valve can be opened at any time to deflate the balloon -- in an emergency, for instance.

The study -- which had no industry funding, Ohta said -- involved 10 adults who were overweight or obese.

All were treated with the gastric balloon, along with diet and exercise changes -- key components of all the approved balloon systems.

After six months, the patients had lost almost 13 percent of their body weight, on average. Beyond that, Ohta said, their insulin levels dipped by 20 percent, and their levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol dropped by an average of 20 mg/dL of blood.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Obese people commonly become resistant to insulin's effects, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Ohta said the findings suggest the balloon therapy can not only spur weight loss, but might also help control type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

But a weight-loss surgeon who was not involved in the study was skeptical.

Dr. Mitchell Roslin is chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

It's no surprise that patients in this study saw improvements in insulin and LDL levels, Roslin said. "Any modality" that triggers weight loss will have those benefits, he said.

Roslin is unconvinced that gastric balloons offer a long-term solution to obesity.

"The issue with balloons is that the devices need to be removed," he said. "And it's unlikely there will be a lasting impact when the device is extracted or, in this case, deflated."

He cited "liquid diets" as an analogy. They work, but only for a while. And people often gain back all of the weight they lost, and then some, Roslin said.

"I challenge anyone to explain to me why a balloon will be different," he added.

And leaving the device in place might raise the risk of complications, Roslin said.

As for safety questions, the balloons already on the market have some potential side effects. They include nausea, vomiting and stomach ulcers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Also, earlier this year, the FDA warned doctors of two potential problems with the ReShape and Orbera balloons -- which are filled with fluid, rather than air.

The devices, the agency said, can spontaneously overinflate, sometimes causing abdominal pain, breathing problems and vomiting. Some patients have also developed pancreatitis -- inflammation of the pancreas -- because of compression from the balloons.

If either problem arises, patients may need the device removed, the FDA said.

Ohta acknowledged that his study was very small and short-term. He said larger, longer-term trials are planned.

Ohta presented his initial findings with the device on Monday at the annual Digestive Disease Week meeting of gastroenterologists, in Chicago. The results should be considered preliminary until they're published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more on managing obesity.

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'Balloon-in-a-Pill' Spurs Weight Loss, Health Benefits: Study | Health ... - Helena Independent Record

One common reason to exercise in the spring of each year is to get ready for swimsuit season. This article talks about exercising and swimsuit season.

I read an article recently that talked about swimsuit season and defined a bikini-ready body as simply a body that could physically put a bikini on that body, regardless of size and shape. There is a lot of pressure to be perfect by the standards that women set for themselves. This article also showed many pictures of women in bikinis, and some of them were pregnant, had stretch marks from previous pregnancies or showed women of average to above-average weight.

So, is it worth the trouble to exercise if you dont end up with the perfect bikini body?

Research has confirmed that any amount of exercise, at any age, is beneficial. And, in general, the more you do, the greater the benefits. The National Academy of Sciences has recommended that everyone strive for a total of an hour per day of physical activity. Sounds like a lot, but the hour can be made up of several shorter bursts of activity (it can be walking, gardening, even heavy housecleaning) done throughout the day.

Walking, lifting weights, doing chores its all good. Regardless of what you do, regular exercise and physical activity is the path to health and well-being. Exercise burns fat, builds muscle, lowers cholesterol, eases stress and anxiety and lets us sleep restfully.

Another important part of health and that perfect body is eating for health. To lose weight, most people need to reduce the number of calories they get from food and beverages (energy in) and increase their physical activity (energy out).

For a weight loss of 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per week, daily intake should be reduced by 500 to 750 calories. In general:

Eating plans that contain 1,200 to 1,500 calories each day will help most women lose weight safely.

Eating plans that contain 1,500 to 1,800 calories each day are suitable for men and for women who weigh more or exercise regularly.

Very low calorie diets of fewer than 800 calories per day should not be used unless you are being monitored by your doctor.

So, I am still wondering if I do all the appropriate exercise and diet plans, will I have that perfect bikini body? That is where genetics and general body build come into play and results will always vary. However, in general your health will always be better with exercise and a healthy diet regardless of the size of your swimsuit or other clothing.

Have a happy and healthy summer.

Sources: Web MD, Women on the Web and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Marcia Grant is a wellness coordinator, personal trainer and fitness instructor at Columbus Family YMCA.

Original post:
Grant: 'Bikini body' isn't only reason to exercise - Columbus Telegram

The word cellulite was coined decades ago in an European beauty-spa to describe fat that has pushed itself between the walls of your connective tissue.

Many people think toxins cause cellulite. Toxins have nothing to do with cellulite. You can develop cellulite whether youre heavy or thin. Nothing you put on the out side of your body will reduce the fat on the inside. The only way to reduce cellulite is to reduce your fat intake and do some exercise.

What is commonly called cellulite is just a dimpling appearance of fat on your thighs and buttocks. Everyone can develop cellulite. Cellulite is most common in women. Its possible for a woman of normal weight to have more cellulite than an overweight woman.

The area where cellulite develops is made up of a network of fibrous bands on top of fat. The fat pushes through this network of bands and creates a waffled or dimpled appearance. The more fat you have, the more cellulite shows. As you age the supportive structure that makes fat appear smooth begins to breakdown. It now takes less fat for the cellulite to show.

Poor diet, fad dieting, slow metabolism, lack of physical activity, hormone changes, dehydration, high total body fat, thickness and color of your skin are other conditions that lead to the development of cellulite. Even genetics can play a role in your development of cellulite.

In the last few years over $30 billion each year was spent to get rid of fat. The least effective method was the cellulite creams, which claim to work by helping your body metabolize fat.

Cellulite develops deep under your skin and metabolism takes place inside the body, not outside. Dieting is the most popular way to lose weight. Dieting will never burn fat or calories. Most of the people who lost weight while dieting gained back all the weight they lost. Some dieters gained back the original weight and from 10 to 15 pounds more.

When you plan to get rid of cellulite you should look at your complete lifestyle.

The Right Nutrition

You should never take in less than 12 calories per pound of body weight. That means a 100-pound person should take in no less than 1,200 calories daily. This type of eating plan will help keep your metabolism constant.

Your metabolic rate determines how fast your body burns calories. To help get rid of your cellulite, you should drink plenty of water and cut high sodium foods from your diet. Eating plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains throughout the day will help to replace fat calories. Eating small meals throughout the day will keep you from overeating. We should eat foods loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber but low in fat and calories.

These nutrients rich foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, peas and low fat dairy products.

Its recommended that we have at least four servings each of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and two servings of protein. Low fat dairy products are also important. You need at least two serving daily.

Get Physical

Exercise also speeds up your metabolic rate. Ideally you should do an aerobic workout to burn fat and some strengthening resistance exercises to develop and tone muscle tissue to effectively burn fat. If you diet without exercising, your body will feed on muscle to get what it needs.

A good beginner workout should consist of a light aerobic workout like brisk walking, stretching and basic calisthenics like push-ups for the chest, back and triceps and crunch ups for the abdominal area.

If you have never worked out or youre out of shape, you should see your doctor to get his approval to start a program. You should always work your way into a program gradually. If youre coming back from a long lay off (more than six weeks) due to an injury, you need to be very careful and follow your doctors orders.

Aerobic exercise can help keep weight off, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite. To really smooth out your skin, youve got to lift weights. A study done at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Mass., found that adults who did three 30-minute aerobic workouts each week for eight weeks lost 4 pounds, but gained no muscle and only slightly improved body fat composition. Those that combined 15 minutes of aerobic activity with 15 minutes of strength training three times a week lost 10 pounds of fat, added 2 pounds of muscle, and saw a greater overall improvement in body fat composition. The later group looked better and lost a lot of the dimples.

Aerobics Workout

An aerobics workout is any workout that keeps you moving continuously for 30 minutes. It takes the body 30 minutes to switch to the fat burning stage during a workout. The average person can comfortably start with 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise. Gradually build your aerobic exercise time to 30 to 45 minutes at least 3 times a week. Aerobic exercise is the only effective way to burn fat.

Some examples of aerobic workouts include 30 minutes or more of brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, skating, swimming, walking in a pool, aerobic, dancing, racquetball and jumping rope.

Workouts which include a lot of stop-and-go movements will burn calories but are not considered aerobic. These include karate, volleyball, weight training, sprinting, tennis, ballet and gymnastics.

Resistance Exercise

Not doing muscle-building exercises will make you look worse than when you started your diet. Muscle gives the body its shape. Doing toning exercises with weights or active exercise machines for the whole body two to three times a week will help to smooth out the dimpled effect caused by cellulite. Lack of muscle tone will make cellulite more obvious. When you build muscle it will also help burn fat.

A beginner should start by doing 15 minutes of calisthenics. This should include two to three exercises for each body part. Push-ups, sit-ups, knee bends and calf raises are excellent basic exercises.

After getting in some conditioning, starting using some weights. Join a gym. Get a trainer. Make your workout harder.

Dieting and Smoking

The only sure way to lose weight safely is to exercise and diet at the same time. By dieting and exercising sensibly you can lose 1 to 1.5 pounds of body fat a week. Any greater loss will be water, muscle and bone. So get rid of that cellulite safely. Eat right and exercise.

Stop smoking. Cigarette smoke reduces blood vessel flow, weaken connective tissue and disrupt the formation of collagen. Smoking helps to cause the connective tissue to become stretched and damaged more easily. This allows underlying fat to show through your connective tissue. Smoking can also causes premature wrinkles and aging, leave skin dry and discolored and can contribute to stretch marks.

Before starting your fitness program, consult your physician.

Read the original post:
Advice to iron out those fat dimples from cellulite - The Philadelphia Tribune

Doctors treating an Egyptian woman believed to be have been the worlds heaviest before undergoing weight loss surgery said she is suffering from cardiac issues and bed sore infections. Eman Abd El Aty, who left an Indian hospital on Thursday for further treatment at a center in Abu Dhabi, was airlifted from her home with the help of a crane for the March procedure.

Abd El Aty, 36, has not walked in 25 years and at her heaviest, reportedly weighed about 1,100 pounds. She reportedly had lost more than 660 after undergoing the bariatric procedure, but doctors had warned about future complications due to her weak bones.

EGYPTIAN WOMAN LEAVES INDIAN HOSPITAL MORE THAN 650 POUNDS LIGHTER

A team of more than 20 doctors is now treating Ab El Aty at Burjeel Hospital.

She is currently facing several health conditions, including a cardiac issue, which is still under intensive investigation; severe urosepsis [a bacterial infection complicating a urinary tract infection]; and third degree infected bed sores, a statement from the hospital said, according to BBC News.

The statement said doctors are focused on improving her condition and hope to have her sitting up with minimal to no assistance.

GAINING WEIGHT IN MIDDLE AGE? IT'S THIS MOLECULE'S FAULT, SCIENTISTS SAY

Her former doctor at Saifee Hospital, Muffazal Lakdawala, predicted that Ab El Aty is facing multiple surgeries to straighten her hips and knees, but had clashed with the womans family members during her hospitalization. A report by Mid-Day noted the hospital called authorities on Abd El Atys sister, Salem, who had accused the hospital of exaggerating her weight loss. Salim also claimed Abd El Aty was suffering seizures and was not stable enough to be moved.

Abd El Aty was placed on a special liquid diet to reduce her weight ahead of the bariatric procedure so that doctors could safely operate, BBC News reported.

Read more:
'Heaviest woman' reportedly has cardiac issues after weight-loss procedure - Fox News

THIS three-day Military Diet might be the quickest way to lose weight.

GETTY

With the summer coming up and wedding season nearly upon us, many Brits will be wanting to shed a few pounds.

But what is the best way to lose weight quickly? There are so many fad diets and exercise regimes out there it can be confusing to know which one to focus on, but we might have the answer.

The Military Diet is perfectly designed to hep you burn fat faster and its completely free.

Participants are not required to do any exercise (although it would probably help) and can expect to lose up to 10lbs in a matter of days.

If you are looking to lose that belly fat, try these simple easy to follow tips that will help you on the road

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Eat every three hours - Passing on breakfast will send your body into starvation mode, meaning your body starts to store everything youve eaten as fat, and youre midsection is the first to suffer the consequences

The Military Diet site claims: The food combinations in the Military Diet are designed to burn fat, kick start your metabolism and lose weight fast.

In fact, the Military Diet is one of the best natural diets for rapid weight loss without a prescription.

This diet is thought to have originated in the 1980s and was used by military men who had a medical check-up coming up and needed to lose some weight fast.

GETTY

It consists of three days of very low calorie intake, followed by fours days of measured calories of around 1200 Kcal- 1500 Kcal.

Here is the three-day meal plan:

Day 1

Breakfast: 1 slice of wholegrain toast with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 cup of coffee or tea.

Lunch: A slice of whole grain toast, 1/2 cup of Tuna, 1 cup of coffee or tea

Dinner: 3-Oz (85 grams) serving of any meat, 1 cup of green beans, 1 small apple, 1/2 banana, 1 cup vanilla ice cream.

Day 2

Breakfast: 1 slice of toast (whole grain), 1 hard-boiled egg, 1/2 banana.

Lunch: 1 hard-boiled egg, a cup of cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers.

Dinner: 2 hot dogs without bun, 1/2 cup of carrots and 1/2 cup of broccoli, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream.

GETTY

Day 3

Breakfast: 1 slice of cheddar cheese

5 saltine crackers, and an apple

Lunch: 1 slice of toast, one egg (hard boiled or cooked according to your likes)

Dinner: A cup of tuna, 1/2 banana, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream. No snacks are allowed between meals, black coffee and green tea without sugar are allowed.

The reason this diet provides rapid weight loss is because it is a low calorie plan and it is a type of intermittent fasting.

This is not a long-term diet plan and should not be followed for more than three days.

Original post:
How to lose weight fast: You could lose 10lbs in three days on this Military diet plan - Daily Star

CLARKSBURG, WV--(Marketwired - May 09, 2017) - With American obesity rate at nearly 35%, millions of Americans are motivated to find the perfect weight loss solution. However, finding a suitable diet and maintaining weight loss, particularly over the long run, is challenging for most individuals. In general, even reducing 1 to 2 pounds per week requires reducing daily intake by 500 to 1000 calories. Medical weight loss solutions and physical activity can help dieters lose weight fast but it is important to be extremely careful in choosing weight loss solutions because some of them are downright dangerous.

For instance, the original hCG diet, developed by Dr. Simeons in the early 1950s, limited daily calorie consumption to a mere 500 calories and prescribed small doses of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). hCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy that contains 244 amino acids and has been linked to rapid weight loss by supposedly reducing "abnormal" fat from cells and around internal organs. Dr. Simeons' diet was essentially starvation-based and resulted in negative effects like extreme weakness, hair loss, and muscle loss. It also faced heavy criticism and was ultimately declared unsafe and unacceptable by medical experts, nutritionists, and leading weight loss centers like Diet Doc Weight Loss.

It must be noted that as more has been learned about the hCG hormone, safer hCG treatment programs with higher calorie requirements have become available. Typically, these programs involve undergoing hCG treatment while consuming between 800 to 1250 calories everyday. As a result, dieters can lose weight consistently while minimizing the negative side effects associated with the original Simeons method of hCG dieting. However, dieters should still follow doctor guidance and adhere to nutritional requirements every day to avoid negative consequences.

Diet Doc, a nationally recognized weight loss program, has continuously discouraged the Simeons method of hCG dieting and suggests high-calorie programs that involve safer weight loss. Doctor-supervision and diet customization based on nutritional needs are also highly recommended.

Regardless of their weight loss history or individual struggles, Diet Doc helps patients develop an individualized diet based on their nutritional needs or even their genetics. All Diet Doc programs, provide a doctor-supervised, customized diet plan. Instead of encouraging patients to adopt harmful dietary practices with no prior medical knowledge, Diet Doc consults with patients to provide a detailed weight loss plan based on their nutritional needs and medical history.

Losing weight with Diet Doc is safe, simple and affordable. Nutrition plans, exercise guidance, motivational support, and dietary supplements are all part of the package. Over 90% of Diet Doc patients report an average weight loss of 20 or more pounds every month and long-term weight loss maintenance is made possible through continuous counseling.

Patients can get started immediately, with materials shipped directly to their home or office. They can also maintain weight loss in the long-term through weekly consultations, customized diet plans, motivational coaches and a powerful prescription program. With Diet Doc, the doctor is only a short phone call away and a fully dedicated team of qualified professionals is available 6 days per week to answer questions, address concerns and support patients.

Getting started with Diet Doc is very simple and affordable. New patients can easily visit https://www.dietdoc.com to quickly complete a health questionnaire and schedule an immediate, free online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical weight loss, offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DietDocMedicalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DietDocMedicalWeightLoss/LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/company/diet-doc-weight-loss?trk=biz-brand-tree-co-logo

More:
Diet Doc Patients Lose Weight Fast With Doctor-Supervision and ... - Marketwired (press release)

LISA JACKSON reveals how she lost 12st by removing one thing from her diet. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES.

SWNS

At her heaviest, Lisa Jackson was drinking six cans of coke a day.

This left Lisa tipping the scale at 24st and a dress size of 24. Her body mass index was 53.2 double the healthy weight range.

The 29-year-old said the initial weight gain began in 2007 when she found herself getting too comfortable in her new relationship.

By 2013, Lisa had doubled her weight after spending days eating chip buttys, crisps, chocolate and pasta or pizza.

SWNS

In February that year, Lisa saw a picture of her that would make her change her lifestyle. Standing next to a slim friend, she couldnt believe how large she was.

Lisa began to eat fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, tuna for lunch and chicken breast with sweet potato for dinner.

She also swapped her 800-plus calories of coke per day for water.

After joining a Zumba class as well, Lisa shed two stone in six weeks. She began to hit the gym regularly and would go to up to three classes per day.

This caused a rift in her relationship of then eight years and her and her partner split

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are all the rage right now and for good reason. Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Hair and nails are mostly made of protein and your body uses protein to build and repair tissues.

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By March 2015 Lisa had lost an incredible 9st and now weighed 13st.

However, she said she struggled with her appearance due to her extreme weight loss.

Lisa had 1st of excess skin on her stomach and decided to get abdominoplasty her excess skin removed.

A few months before her surgery, Lisa met fellow gym goer Ryan Atkinson, 27 and the pair quickly fell in love. When she told him about the surgery he told her he loved her whether she had surgery or not.

The abdominoplasty took six hours and cost 9000. The skin was cut away including her belly button and the remaining skin was stitched together and her belly button reattached.

Three days after Lisas surgery, she was discharged and left with a fat stomach.

"After working so hard to lose half my bodyweight, finding my dream man and getting a taut flat belly is the icing on the cake, Lisa said.

"I was absolutely amazed by the skin removal picture. I didn't ask doctors to take it but now I'm glad they did.

"I keep it on my phone and look at it as a reminder of how hard I worked and how much I went through to achieve my dream body."

"Most people would look at it and be disgusted - but for me it's a reminder of what I've done."

"The photo is a reminder of how I turned my life around, Whenever I doubt myself, I look at that and know I can do anything."

**WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW**

SWNS

Lisas diet before

Breakfast: Three slices of toast - with a can of coke

Lunch: Chip butty

Dinner: Pasta or pizza

Drinks: Coke - about six cans a day

Snacks: Chocolate, crisps

Exercise: None

Lisas diet after

Breakfast: A bowl of fruit, natural yoghurt, nuts and black tea.

Lunch: Tuna salad

Dinner: Chicken breast, rice sweet potato

Drinks: Water

Snacks: Nuts, good for you naked bar, natural yoghurt

Exercise: Weights and cardio six times a week

Here is the original post:
Obese woman loses 12st after ditching this ONE thing - Daily Star

There are many types of fasting diets. But are they any better than restricting your energy intake the old fashioned way?

Trying to lose weight is hard work. You need to plan meals and snacks, and make a big effort to avoid situations that trigger more eating and drinking than youd planned. Dieting can also be very antisocial. But what if you could speed up weight loss, spend less time dieting, with the promise of better results? This is where fasting diets come in.

Intermittent fasting is the broad name for diets when you fast to some degree on some, but not all, days of the week; you eat normally on the other days.

On fast days, the kilojoule (energy) restriction is severe, at about 25% of what you would normally eat. This is only 2,000 to 3,000 kilojoules a day. An average person needs around 8,700 kilojoules a day (depending on body size and activity level) to maintain their current body weight.

To lose between one quarter and half a kilogram a week you would need to reduce your energy intake by 2,000 kilojoules a day. Over a whole week, this is equivalent to cutting back total energy intake by 14,000 kilojoules. Fasting diets compress this 14,000 kilojoule reduction into fewer days of dieting. In practical terms, this means that you reduce your intake by so much on a couple of days, you do not to be so strict on the other days.

Depending on the type of fasting diet, you focus all your weight loss efforts into sticking to the severe restriction for either two days a week (as in the 5:2 diet) or every second day (for three to four days days a week), as in alternate-day fasting. Another variation is the 16-hour overnight fast where eating is restricted every day to an eight-hour window, such as 11am to 7pm. Across all types of intermittent energy restrictions diets, we dont know the longer-term benefits or harms.

Any intermittent fasting approach will work if you can tolerate the hunger pains and stick to it. Sounds easy, but it is a very hard thing to do and for many it is not realistic. When you are fasting, your body thinks there is a famine and will try to get you to eat. The idea is that by including non-fasting periods, when you eat what you want, you may feel less like you are on a diet, and that makes it easier to stick to.

Even though fasting dieters are told to eat what they feel like on non-fast days, most do not get a compensatory increase in appetite. In other words, they do not over-eat, but just eat normally on non-fast days. So they reduce their total kilojoule intake over the whole week.

A specific type of continuous (every day) fasting diet is called a protein sparing modified fast or a very low energy diet. These limit you to 1,800 to 2,500 kilojoules a day, every day. They use products called formulated meal replacements, in the form of milkshakes or snack bars to replace most meals and snacks. These are supplemented with vitamins and minerals to meet the bodys nutrient needs.

Such very low energy programs usually include one small meal that contains a couple of cups of vegetables (to boost fibre and nutrient intakes), a small amount of oil (to keep the gall bladder working) and sometimes a fibre supplement (to manage constipation). These are reserved for when you need to lose weight urgently for health reasons or ahead of surgery.

Continuous fasting using these very low energy diets is associated with a reduction in hunger. This is thought to be due to the production of molecules called ketones that cross the blood-brain barrier (from the brains bloodstream into its tissues) and reduce appetite.

Intermittent fasting diets that last for at least six months help people lose weight. However, they are no more effective than other dietary approaches that restrict your kilojoule intake every day, but not so severely as a fast.

Consistent with this result, a study published last week randomised 100 adults to either alternate-day fasting, a continuous energy restriction diet, or to no intervention, for six months. They were followed for another six months after that. There was no difference in weight loss between the diet groups after a year.

And a review that compared behavioural interventions for weight management to those that also included very low energy diets found very low energy approaches achieved slightly greater weight loss for up to two years.

Fasting diets are not for everyone. People with major medical problems, or taking a range of medications including insulin, should not go on them, unless under medical supervision; they are not suitable for children, in pregnancy or for people with eating disorders; and they may exacerbate some mental health conditions.

Fasting diets can also have side-effects. The more days you spend fasting, the more likely you are to have them. Side-effects can include constipation, headaches, bad breath, gall bladder disease, gout and liver inflammation.

So, before starting a weight loss diet, see your doctor for a check-up. When you need more support to improve your eating habits, or the diet you were following stops working, you need to try another approach. That is a good time to also get advice from an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

The best diet to help you achieve a healthy weight is one you can stick with. It should also help you feel better and be healthier.

By making improvements to your usual eating habits, that you can live with permanently, you will drop some weight. It might not be your dream weight, but it is likely to be realistic. It might not sound sexy, but its true.

Read more from the original source:
What are 'fasting' diets and do they help you lose weight? - The Conversation AU